Method for locating drifting submerged gear

Abstract

A method for locating drifting gear, including at least the following steps: —anchoring a submerged beacon to one of the ends of the drifting gear, the submerged beacon being equipped to rise to the surface and including a casing enclosing a transceiver of a radio-acoustic signal associated with a control unit, and a release mechanism allowing the beacon to rise in response to reception of a code and an order by the control unit, —geolocating the start point of the drifting gear, in order to allow the fisherman to delineate the region of its location by estimating the drift of his drifting gear from the start point so as to direct the search for the drifting gear in the estimated direction, —locating the drifting gear using the submerged beacon.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for locating drifting gear, comprising:
 anchoring a submerged beacon to one of the ends of the drifting gear that it is wished subsequently to locate, said submerged beacon being provided with means that ensure it will rise to the surface and comprising a casing enclosing a transceiver for a radio-acoustic signal associated with a control unit coupled to at least one time-measuring unit,   geolocating the start point of the drifting gear, in order to enable the fisherman to limit the location zone by estimating the drift of his drifting gear from the start point so as to direct the search for said drifting gear in the estimated direction,   location of the drifting gear by the submerged beacon, the latter comprising a release mechanism enabling said beacon to rise to the surface in response to the reception of a radio-acoustic code and of an order from said control unit, said location step consisting of the transmission, by the transceiver of the submerged beacon, of a radio-acoustic signal able to be received by a transceiver probe of the owner of the drifting gear and the transmission by said probe of the radio-acoustic code enabling the triggering of the release mechanism and the rising of said beacon to the surface, when the radio-acoustic signal is received by the probe.   
     
     
         11 . The method for locating according to  claim 10 , wherein the location step consists of the programmed release of at least one location element secured to the submerged beacon followed by the rising of the latter to the surface. 
     
     
         12 . The method for locating according to  claim 10 , wherein the location step consists of the programmed triggering of the release mechanism enabling the submerged beacon to rise to the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method for locating according to  claim 10 , wherein before the step of anchoring a submerged beacon, a step of inputting into the control unit the periodicity and the duration of the radio-acoustic signal transmitted by the submerged beacon and/or of the date and time of the release of at least one location element and/or of the triggering of the release mechanism enabling the submerged beacon to rise to the surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method for locating according to  claim 10 , wherein conjointly with the location step, a complementary step of assisting location by one or more location-assistance members attached to the submerged beacon and/or the location element.